Gun finishes

[ebb]

In years gone by I did some baked-on gun finishes and made a heat box out of plywood and lined with sheet metal. I used KG Guncoat the 2400 series. Has anything I can do at home been developed that is better than the Guncoat 2400? Easier, faster, better, cheaper, less work or prep? my left over 2400 finishes were so old the had limps in them I couldn't stir out and it is time to reorder.

 

[Sniperhandle]

Cerakote is what I use, It is pretty easy to use once you get setup. I used a lot of different coatings, But the Cerakote is the best by far. I have used, KG GunKote, Norrels Moly Resin, Duracoat etc.

 

[SteveOak]

How durable is Cerakote?

 

[Clancy]

Cerakote is durable, protective and attractive.

The only thing I’ve seen that’s hard on cerakote is metal to metal contact, but you gotta be super hard on equipment to damage it.

 

[leethal]

In years gone by I did some baked-on gun finishes and made a heat box out of plywood and lined with sheet metal. I used KG Guncoat the 2400 series. Has anything I can do at home been developed that is better than the Guncoat 2400? Easier, faster, better, cheaper, less work or prep? my left over 2400 finishes were so old the had limps in them I couldn't stir out and it is time to reorder.

No .. I’ve been using KG since 1999 in my business. Cerakote has a catalyst and is not easier or faster. It cannot be spot repaired either. I use both products but the KG Nano coating is my go-to. Super thin and better on tight tolerances than Cerakote.

 

[SteveOak]

Cerakote is durable, protective and attractive.

The only thing I’ve seen that’s hard on cerakote is metal to metal contact, but you gotta be super hard on equipment to damage it.

Thank you @Clancy.

I am putting together a 2011 pistol, starting with an aluminum frame. I'm looking for methods of passivating the frame. The slide will be steel. It's not like I will put it on a rope and drag it down the road behind my car. LOL But there will necessarily be contact between the frame and slide as the slide slides and the woodchuck chucks, etc.

 

[D-4297]

I built a Mosin - Nagant .308 Custom , "F"-Open style Target rifle five or six years ago , and used Cerakote on the receiver . After about 3,000 - 3,500 rounds of decent Target loads , it had one small chip where the Bolt stripped a piece of the coating that was over-hanging in the Bolt track .
Just make sure the surfaces are completely free of any contamination , and you'll be good to go .

 

[Randfal]

No .. I’ve been using KG since 1999 in my business. Cerakote has a catalyst and is not easier or faster. It cannot be spot repaired either. I use both products but the KG Nano coating is my go-to. Super thin and better on tight tolerances than Cerakote.

+10 for this. I use both cerakote and KG Nano series and 2400 series coatings and hands down easier to apply one is KG Gunkote. Especially in thin coating areas like bolt raceways, KG goes on in thin coats better. Cerakote owns the market with the best marketing out there and that’s why they are the household name. With KG you do not have to weigh out 2 parts with various ratios and waste paint when you over mix too much. KG just pours back in the bottle. Every time I use Cerakote a wonder why anyone puts up with that PITA when there KG Gunkote. Usually only use Cerakote if a specific color is needed. With KG, If your part is warmed before painting, it also flashes off quickly so if you’re a clumsy painter and bump the part, there’s a good chance you won’t smudge it and ruin the whole thing. To tell the difference in durability in the real world you’ll have to drag it behind a truck to tell the different. When properly applied, both need to be sandblasted off to remove it.

 

[Seagull]

Haven't used either cerakote or kg product. But i have used duracoat on a couple of actions and barrels . Never had an issue with holds up well . Plus we spray it on multiple picatinny rails when orders are finished . No need to be put in an oven to cure its an air dry even tho it's a 2 part system.